Kid’s Bento Lunch Boxes Ideas

One of my favorite activities of the day is packing cute bento lunch boxes for my Kiddos.  As soon as October started, I’ve been making the lunch boxes with Halloween theme.  These lunch boxes are fun and festive.  It’s a way for me to send some love for the kiddos while they are at school.  The picture above is a spaghetti lunch box with Hello Kitty wearing a witch’s hat.  Kitty is made out of a slice of Muenster cheese.  The decorations are seaweed and soy wrappers.  The little pumpkin is a slice of carrot decorated with cut out seaweed. 



I love the Frankenstein bento as well.  It’s made out of a slice of Muenster cheese topped with a piece of green soy wrapper.  Click here to check out the package of soy wrapper that I used.  (I’ll list the tools and other ingredients at the end of this post for your reference as well.)   I absolutely love the soy wrappers as they are so colorful and easy to use.  Best of all, they are made with natural ingredients such as spinach, turmeric, and paprika to obtain those gorgeous bright colors. 




Here’s a simple one with ghosts and a broom stick.  Click here to check out the video tutorial on how to make the witch’s broom and the little ghosts were made out of mozzarella cheese balls decorated with cut out seaweeds.







The picture above is a bowl of Miso Noodle Soup that I made for my Hubby.  I’m sure we can all use some sunshine.  I feel happy just by looking at the cute face on the egg.



Have you heard of Gudetama?  It’s a Japanese cartoon character of an lazy egg (see picture above).  Click here to check out their Facebook page for some funny videos.  My kids and I always enjoy watching them together!



This little girl with spaghetti hair is one of my favorite.  It’s simple and adorable!






The little chick above is made with smoked salmon filled egg, check out this video for the tutorial and recipe.







My kids’ all time favorite got to be these piggy ham and cheese sandwiches along with Minions (see picture below)!  These lunch boxes are inspired by The Despicable Me 3 movie that we watched over the summer. The Minions are hard boiled eggs soaked in water and turmeric for the yellow color.  The decorations are cut out seaweeds.  I hope you enjoy today’s bento compilations and lunch box ideas!  If you have any questions, suggestions, or recipe requests, feel free to leave me a comment below. 

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Tools and Ingredients Used for Bento Boxes:
Bento Box 1 (Click here for more information)
Bento Box 2 (Click here for more information)
Hello Kitty Shape Cutter (Click here for more information)
Sandwich Cutters (Click here for more information)
Seaweed (Click here for more information)
Soy Wrappers (Click here for more information)
Bento Picks 1 (Click here for more information)
Bento Picks 2 (Click here for more information)
Bento Picks 3 (Click here for more information)
Food Decorating Tweezers (Click here for more information)
Kitchen Scissors (Click here for more information)
Turmeric (Click here for more information)

Back to School Recipe Idea: How to Make Cutie Mouse Bento Lunch Box 可愛鼠鼠便當飯盒

For those who have young kids, how was your transition for going back to school?  I hope all of you had a positive and smooth process so far.  Mysteriously, for my family, we’re returned to our normal school day schedules and routines rather smoothly.  Well, except that I had already forgotten to set my alarm clock twice in a week.  Luckily, I managed to wake up even before my usual time and that's just so... not me!



Part of my morning routine is packing lunches and snacks for my kids.  This school year, one of my goal is to pack more fun lunch boxes for my Kiddos!



As parents, we don't likes to open "un-touched" (or barely eaten/consumed) lunch boxes after school?  That’s probably one of the biggest fear for the lunch-packers (is there an official term for this role?)  For the kids, it’s always more fun to open a lunch box and see surprises inside.  After all, I think a fun lunch box will definitely help with one’s appetite!  Today, let me present to you the Cutie Mouse in the Garden 可愛鼠鼠便當飯盒 lunch box. It’s a Bento lunch box, with an open sandwich, veggies, hard boil egg, ham, and cheese.  It is also accompanied by a cutie little mouse wondering in the garden looking for her cheese.



My Baby Girl had fun helping me out in decorating the lunch box as well.  If you haven’t watched the video tutorial yet, don’t miss out and go watch it now!  Make sure that you watch until the end for a little surprise too.  If you make this cute lunch for your kiddo, I’m sure they’ll feel the love and warmth that you send along with this lunch box!  Many of us can use some fresh ideas in packing fun lunches from time to time.  If you have any specific or special request, please commend below and I’ll try my best to create the videos and posts for you.  Stay tuned for another fun and easy recipe next week!  Take care.





Some Tools used in this post and other suggestions:
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers (Click here for more information)
Hello Kitty Bento Lunch Box (Click here for more information)
Hello Kitty Bento Lunch Box 2 (Click here for more information)
Hello Kitty Bento Lunch Box 3 (Click here for more information)
Small Bento Picks (Click here for more information)
Small Bento Picks 2 (Click here for more information)
Small Bento Picks 3 (Click here for more information)


Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel here.  That way, you won’t miss out on any video and you’ll be the first to know when I have a new tutorial published.

Sakura Raindrop Cake ( 櫻花水信玄餅)

Have you ever tried the Raindrop Cake, which is definitely the latest trendy dessert?  It’s a very popular dessert in Japan and was recently introduced to the Western world.  Technically, the Raindrop Cake isn’t really a “cake” per se.  There’s no batter and no baking involved!  A Raindrop Cake is a dessert made from water and agar agar powder (a vegan substitute of gelatin powder, obtained from algae).  Traditionally, it is served with black sugar syrup called Kuromitsu and a roasted soy flour called Kinako.  (Please reference my video above.)



This Raindrop Cake is a chilled dessert that is super dreamy and gorgeous.  Each bite simply melts in your mouth, like swallowing raindrops.  Maybe that’s where the name came from.  Or maybe it got its name from its appearance because the cake itself looks like a gigantic raindrop landed on the plate! 



Of course, I can’t just stop at the traditional Raindrop Cake.  I tested out the recipe with the traditional plain one.  Then, I further transformed this gorgeous and whimsical treat with the addition of my favorite Japanese ingredient, Pickled Sakura (cherry blossom).  To elevate it to the next level, I added a few freckles of edible gold leaf.  Normally, a piece of the traditional Raindrop Cake costs $8 USD (in NYC).  But when you can make it at home, it only costs a fraction of the price and you can splurge on other luxury ingredients such as gold leaf and sakura!       



As I mentioned earlier, this dessert is served with black sugar syrup and soy bean flour.  They are the perfect company to this dessert.  As the cake itself is really mild, the Black Sugar Syrup adds the perfect sweetness and earthiness while the Soy Bean Flour accentuate it with a nice toasty and nutty aroma to the palate.  The edible gold leaf is tasteless and simply for decorative purposes.  However, the pickled Sakura adds a nice tartness and saltiness to the cake.  The Sakura reminds me of salty, sour plum (話梅) with a hint of floral aroma.  Of course, it adds a beautiful visual presentation to this treat as well. 



My Baby Girl and I had so much fun making this Sakura Raindrop Cake together!  I think my girl is ready to take over the kitchen, real soon!  Last but not least, I’ll list all the tools and ingredients used in this recipe for your convenience.  Thank you for stopping by my blog.  I hope you enjoyed today’s video and recipe.  Stay tuned for more fun and trendy treat next week!




Tools and ingredients used:
Large Hemisphere Silicone Mold (Click here for more information)
Agar Agar Powder (Click here for more information)
Pickled Sakura (Click here for more information)
Edible Gold Leaf Sheets (Click here for more information)
Black Sugar (see similar product here)
Soy Bean Flour (Click here for more information)
Food Decorating Tongs/Tweezers (Click here for more information)
 

5 Different Flavors Homemade Gummy Bears 自家製小熊軟糖 (五種口味)

Are you ready for the summer?  I’ve been looking forward to our summer holiday since April! Ha!  Our family truly enjoy the summer holidays!  We love the days when we can sleep in, hang out by the pool or at the beach, cook something fun in the kitchen together, learn something, go somewhere adventurous, maybe explore places we’ve never step foot in, or simply doing nothing all day long!  But, I’m not so looking forward to the summer heat, both mentally and physically!




Today, I’ve got not just one cool recipe to share with you, but 5!   Check out these 5 Different Flavors Homemade Gummy Bears 自家製小熊軟糖 (五種口味)!  Not only they are fun to look at, fun to eat, they are truly quite fun to make as well!



 As you can see from the video tutorial above, I’ve got this cute little gummy bear silicone mold that comes with the dropper, that’s so convenience to use (I’ll also put the shopping link at the end of this post for your reference).  This mold gives nice details to the finish products, as you can see the eyes and toes of the gummy bears clearly! I think that’s totally awesome!  My Little Girl actually helped me made these gummy bears while I was testing the recipes!  We had a blast in the kitchen together!



Check out the recipes on how to make these 5 Different Flavors Homemade Gummy Bears, located at the bottom of this post.  The flavors are Lemon, Lime, Orange, Strawberry, and Blackberry, all made with fresh fruits and their juices!  These are not only delicious and fun, but actually good for you because they are packed with vitamin C and anti-oxidant!  I used a little cooking spray to grease my air tight container (for storage) so that the gummy won’t stick together.  If you plan to finish the gummy bears in a day or two, leave them at room temperature.  Otherwise, it might be a good idea to keep them in the fridge as they contain fresh fruits.  Just keep in mind that the texture might be firmer if you keep them in the fridge.   



As you can see from the picture above, I used up my entire collection of silicone mold!  Yes, you can definitely put these gummy in any molds you like, even just a rectangular tray if you don’t have a mold (you can see from my video above).  You can then cut the gummy out into different shapes with a cookie cutter.  I’ll list some of my favorite molds and cutters at the end of the post for your reference.




I hope you enjoy today’s recipes and tutorial!  Make some treats to celebrate the summer!  Whether you’ll be taking a trip, going on summer camps, relaxing at home, I wish you all a wonderful and fruitful Summer Holiday ahead!



Tools and Ingredients Used:

Gummy Bear Mold (Click here for more information)
Microplane Zester (Click here for more information)
Unflavored Gelatin Powder (Click here for more information)
Heat Proof Measuring Cups (Click here for more information)
Measuring Spoons Set (Click here for more information)
Star Shape Cookie Cutter Set (Click here for more information)Small Flower and Heart Cookie Cutter Set (Click here for more information)
Android Silicone Ice Cube Tray (Click here for more information)
OXO Egg Turner (Click here for more information)
Pyrex Small Glass Food Storage Set (Click here for more information)Silicone Mold - 6 Small Designs (Click here for more information)

The Christmas Tree is Finally Up!

Yeah, it finally feels more like Christmas when the tree is up.  I know, I can’t believe Christmas is only around 10 days from today.  I’m so glad we have the tree up over the weekend. 

It’s Baby Girl’s first time decorating/hanging ornaments on the tree.   Daddy was showing her how it’s done. 



Then, she did some on her own…with her favorite Hello Kitty ornaments that she got from Target.  ^^



Then, Little Gentleman’s turn.



Here are some close up's of the ornaments.



Hello Kitty…



More Hello Kitty…



Hello Kitty again?  Oh well, but this one is pretty adorable.



Up next, Little Gentleman’s favorite, Mickey Mouse.



Another Baby Girl’s favorite, Minnie Mouse.



Mickey’s presents.



More Mickey Mouse…



Up next are the elegant collection with crystals.  I love these bells.



The presents are cute too.



Oh no, the reindeer is eating my tree!  Who forgot to feed him? 



I love this church as well.



Last but not least, a shot with all the lights out except for the tree’s own light.  It’s peaceful and beautiful.  I really love this shot.  Is the tree set up in your house yet?  If not, what are you waiting for?  It’s better that you get it done sooner so you can enjoy it longer.  You’ll have to put it away again before you know it!    

Mickey And Minnie Mummy Cupcakes

Boo….Are you ready for Halloween?  Honestly, I wasn’t ready at all until my Mother-in-law took the kids out for Halloween costumes shopping last weekend.  Many of the more popular costumes were either sold out or didn’t have the size for my kids.  I didn’t know people get ready so early when there were more than 3 weeks before Halloween arrives.  With that said, I guess I better get ready and swing into Halloween mood earlier this year as well.  I was planning to dress my kids as Mickey and Minnie Mouse since they are big fans of the mouse.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get those outfits this year.  So, here are some Mickey and Minnie Mummy Cupcakes for the kiddos.  These mummy cupcakes are so much fun to make and for sure will get you into Halloween mood.  Here’s what you need:



1) Prepare some Chocolate cupcakes, of course.  I used this recipe here.  You can use your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe or even boxed cake mix for these.
2) Chocolate Nonpareil Candies for Mickey and Minnie’s ears.
3) Light color Buttercream or frosting.  I used my favorite Meyer Lemon Buttercream recipe here.
4) Chocolate Covered Raisins for Mickey and Minnie’s eyes.
5) Marshmallows
6) Powdered sugar for rolling the marshmallows
7) Heart Shaped Confetti for Minnie’s Bowtie



Here are the steps:

1) Lightly dust a clean surface and your rolling pin with powdered sugar.  With a dusted rolling pin, flatten the marshmallows.  You’ll need about 3 marshmallows for each cupcake.
2) With a kitchen scissors, cut the rolled marshmallows into strips.
3) Frost the cupcakes with a thin layer of Buttercream or frosting. The frosting acts as adhesive for the marshmallow strips and chocolate candies.
4) Place a pair of the chocolate covered raisins on the upper one third of the cupcakes as eyes.
5) Press a pair of chocolate nonpareil candies, white side down, onto the top of the cupcakes as ears.  Refrain myself yourself from eating all the chocolate candies before your project is done. 
6) Place the marshmallow strips at an angle over the frosted cupcakes, leaving the eyes exposed.  Gently press the marshmallow strips so they’ll stick onto the frosting.  Trip off excess marshmallow strips around the cupcakes.



See how simple and easy that was?  I really love this mummy cupcake project.  Fun factor: 80 out of 100.  Spooky factor: 60 out of 100.  60 is pretty much my kids’ standard.  They were wondering why Mickey and Minnie were all bundled up!  After a brief explanation (not too sure if my kids were really listening), the cupcakes mysteriously disappeared.    Spooky, huh?



Cute factor: 100 out of 100.  I’m not a fan for the mouse (guess that’s because I see them too often around the house), but I have to say, these mummy cupcakes are super adorable.  Hope you like them too and maybe make some with your kids this Halloween.  My little girl sure enjoyed the time with me in the kitchen today.  She indulged a few Minnie's ears and Mickey's eyes here and there while having fun rolling out marshmallows with me.